Newark Mayor Cory Booker shakes hands with Grace Harris as she waited in line for clothing after Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey. / Julio Cortez, AP

by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

Newark Mayor Cory Booker is planning to live off food stamps for a week after challenging a follower on Twitter.

Booker, a New Jersey Democrat considered one of his party's rising stars, is a prolific user of the micro-blogging site.

On Sunday, the mayor got into a lengthy exchange on Twitter when he posted a quote from the Greek historian Plutarch: "An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics."

What ensued was criticism that Booker was advocating a redistribution of wealth. Twitter user @MWadeNC tweeted that "nutrition is not a responsibility of the government," which caused Booker to respond that "we have a shared responsibility that kids go to school nutritionally ready 2 learn."

Booker then issued the food stamp challenge, which @MWadeNC accepted. The mayor said Tuesday that he intends to start after Thanksgiving. No word yet on other details.

The University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, which is staging a food stamp challenge in December, has offered to oversee the contest between Booker and his Twitter follower. Under the university's rules, $35 per person can be spent on food during the week. That translates to $1.66 per meal, according to the university's food stamp challenge page on Facebook.

New Jersey residents who qualify receive an average of $133.26 per month in food stamps, according to U.S. Agriculture Department data.

The Twitter profile for @MWadeNC describes the user as a "Daughter of the American Revolution" who fights "against any and all forms of socialism/communism." The profile also says @MWadeNC is an "Army veteran, Army daughter and Army wife."

Booker is mentioned as a possible challenger to Republican Gov. Chris Christie next year. The mayor has said that he frequently posts on Twitter as a way to connect with constituents. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, for example, Booker tweeted followers on where to find assistance in Newark and responded to tweets about downed power lines and other damage.

Booker, a vegetarian, also has talked on Twitter of his love affair with guys named "Ben & Jerry," the makers of his favorite ice cream.